Sean, put your point together with the rest of the info, and I'm getting a plan put together. Sounds like there is not really a best old brand, they all made steel with the old methods, which caused a bit of inconsistancy. If I want perfectly consistant steel, buy one of the new makers, if I want to pick and choose, the old makers are fine. That brings Mikes point into play though.
Mike, that makes sense that the bad tools would have been weeded out over the years.
George, that was a very interesting post, thanks!